Weed-cutter for the propellers of launches.



No. 726,180. yPATENTED AEE.. 21, 190s'.

L. M. MILLEE. .y

WEED GUTTER EOE TEE PEOPELLEES 0E LAUNCHES.

A AP'PLIOATION'EILED SEPT'. 16,1902.

' No MODEL.

I @mi/humaanl Y. a l

I l 4 ummm.

UNiTD STATES PATENT f FFICE.V

LUDVVIC MARTIN MILLER, OF WINNECONNE, WISCONSIN.

WEpED-CUTTER' FOR THE PROPELLERS OF LAUNCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,180, dated April 21, 1903. Application filed September 16, 1902. Serial No. 123,573. (No model.)

- ters for the Propellers of Launches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements .in Weed-cutters for the propellers or screws of launches or boats, the object thereof being to provide means for preventing weeds or grass from fouling, and thus preventing the rotation of the screw or propeller; and the invention consists in providing the hull of the boat with a fixture which serves as a weedguide, the same having adjacent to the 'pro-y peller a cutting, edge which coacts with cutting edges on the front of the screw or propeller near its hub, whereby weeds or grass which may be gathered in front of the wheel adjacent tothe shaft will be cut and freed from the shaft before they can accumulate in such quantities as toprevent the rotation of the wheel, as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, Figures l and 2 lare side elevations showing the stern of a launch with the weed-cutter applied thereto. "Fig is aside view of a part of the screw or propeller, and Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of the weed-guide.

In carrying out my invention theV drivingshaft A Vis supported in the usual manner and is passed through a stuffing-'bozza To the stern of the boat is secured the weedguide B, the rear edge thereof being inclined from its upper end downward toward the hub of the screw or propeller, and on the lower portion ofthe weed-guide B there is a bearing b, through which the shaft A passes. The front of .the weed guide is provided with flan ges or projecting portions which have apertures Y'for the passage of screws or bolts which rigidly attach the weed-guide to the hull/ofthe boat. Adjacent to the bearing b the weed-guide B has a straight portion or -cutting edge, and in practice there may be attached thereto an adjustable plate of steel, which will be secured to the weed-guide by bolts which pass through slots in the plate. Such means of attaching the parts together provides for taking' up Wear. AVIt also provides for adjusting the cutters in proper alinement.

The propeller or screw C has at its front adjacent to the hub on each blade a straight portion c, with which the blade on the weedguide will coact to cut anyy grass or weeds which are gathered by the screw and which are liable to wind about the shaft and screw, so as to prevent the same turning. If desired, the screw may have adjustable plates c', secured to the front of the"blades by bolts, the same engaging the plate on the weed-guide.

By means of the device herein shown and described any weeds or grass that gather in A front of the screw is at once cut and drop astern, and it will be noted that the cutters are operative when the boat is driven astern. The shaft is provided with an additional bearing rear of the stuffing-box, and if the wheel has not front plane edges the plates when attached will provide the requisite cutting edges. This device may be readily applied to boats without changing the construction thereof,and the shape of the weed-guide Where it is attached to the hull may be varied to conform tothe shape thereof.V

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

l. In a weed-cutter for launches, the combination of a weed-guide attached to the hull and provided at its rear with a cutting edge, a screw or propeller' having cutting edges which move in close proximity with the cut-- ting edge of the weed-guide, substantially as shown.. i

2. In a weed-cutter for launches, the combination with a weed-guide which is attached to the hull above the shaft` upon which is mounted the propeller or screw, a bearing on the weed guide throughl which the shaft passes, and a cutting edge on the rear edge ofthe weed-guide, of a propeller or screw having at its front cutting edges which coperate l plate attached tothe Weed-guide, for the pui"- with the cutting edge on the Weed-guide, subpose set forth. I0 stantially as shown. l In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig- 3. In a Weed-cutte1` for launches, the comnature in the presence of two witnesses.

bination with a Weed-guide attached directly LUDVIC MARTIN MILLER. to the hull of the launch, a plate adjustably Witnesses: attached to the weed-guide, of a screw or pro- J. A. SUHL,

pellet` having straight edges in rear of the GEO. MARIN. 

